Stay Up to Date on Spraying Requirements

Jan 17, 2017

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With increasingly complex technologies, strict application regulations and a multitude of weed resistance issues, it is now more important than ever to ensure you’re maximizing the effectiveness of your herbicide program.

There are four key steps to controlling weeds through the use of herbicides. WinField United works with farmers and applicators to get the most out of each step through hands-on demonstrations at local spray clinics. Here are some examples of how attending a spray clinic can help you make the most of the four steps to effective weed control.

Contacting the weed. During spray clinics, we discuss what types of nozzles should be used, and go over the pressure and gallons per acre that would be ideal for each application. We also talk about maintaining the correct boom height and increasing canopy penetration by utilizing drift control products. Anything that we can do to increase the amount of herbicide that makes it out of the nozzle and down to the plant will dramatically help improve the herbicide uptake.

Absorbing the herbicide. Adjuvants are absolutely critical to increasing penetration into a leaf. From the time the droplet hits the leaf surface until it dries, is all the longer the herbicide has to be absorbed. Adjuvants can enlarge the surface area of the droplet, decrease evaporation and cut through waxy cuticles of the leaf surface, thereby increasing absorption of the herbicide into the plant. However, not all herbicides are receptive to the same adjuvants. During a spray clinic, we focus on which herbicides require which adjuvants to increase their efficacy within the plant.

Movement of the herbicide in the plant. Once the herbicide is into the plant, it must move to the site of action. The more herbicide that moves into the plant, the more that will get to the site of action. Because some herbicides do not move much in the plant, we have to focus on increasing coverage with those particular herbicides.

Reaching the site of action. In other words, enough herbicide must reach the site of action to provide a lethal dose. All the recommendations during a spray clinic will help you boost the amount of the herbicide within the plant, which will enhance the chances of the herbicide reaching a lethal dose at the site of action.

For more information about attending a spray clinic and to find one near you, see your WinField® United retailer.